Category Archives: Mobile Web
Britain’s online businesses unprepared for the shift to a mobile world says Barclays
British online businesses growing more than 50 times faster than the UK economy
Mobile-ready businesses generated almost £2.5 million revenue from mobile in 2012
Yet, 89 per cent of UK online businesses are yet to develop their website for mobile traffic
Press release
Companies that operate online are thriving despite the current tough economic conditions, according to new research from Barclays‘ Technology, Media and Telecoms industry team, with half of those questioned having produced double digit growth in the last three years. ‘Barclays Online Business Outlook 2013′ has revealed that the average online company surveyed experienced 11.4 per cent compound annual growth over the last three years. Continue reading
mobiLead to help develop key NFC web standards
Rating: French firm brings expertise in NFC, QR+ and QR Code cloud-based tags
A veteran contributor to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), Laurent Tonnelier, has been involved in multiple key W3C initiatives which have enhanced the mobile space. Those initiatives have included XML, VoiceXML, Mobile Web, and Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) which is a key element of HTML5. Currently CEO of mobiLead, which is a specialist in NFC and QR Code information tag generation and management, Tonnelier has once again announced his involved in the W3C, this time through mobiLead. Continue reading
UK Government digital design principles examined for mobile
by Geoff Dennis
In an earlier article (‘GoMo examines UK gov design principles for mobile’) here, we noted that the UK government has come up with design guidelines for digital services. These are based onDame Martha Lane-Fox guidelines for the [UK] Government Digital Service (GDS). We promised that we would investigate how effective these are for mobile (rather than desktop) users. So we have now taken each of the ten principles and examined its relevance to mobile. See below. Continue reading
GoMo examines UK gov design principles for mobile
Rating: With a little help from Martha Lane-Fox
Not so long ago [July 2012], the UK government came out with a set of design guidelines for (public) digital services. Given that we are at the point where access to the internet more often than not originates from a mobile device than the desktop, here at GoMo News thought we’d investigate how relevant this is to mobile. Plus we’ll look at how well implemented UK government services are for mobile users. Continue reading
GoMo encounters worst ever mobile aware experience
Rating: We still win £14 from Ladbrokes though
Whilst rival bookmaker, Paddy Power, has been in the news for the growth in its profits from the mobile sector (see here), GoMobile News suspects the same won’t be said about Labrokes. We spent the best part of an hour battling to place a bet on the Real Madrid versus Manchester United football match via its mobile site yesterday [March 5th 2013]. We were defeated – but so was Manchester United so we won £14. Continue reading
Opera’s operator sales bolstered by Skyfire acquisition
Rating: The move also has implications for ad-supported data
Two giants in the world of mobile data optimisation - Opera Software and Skyfire Labs are to combine. Opera intends to acquire Skyfire by mid-March [2013]. Significantly, the move will help to boost the range of solutions that both companies can offer to mobile network operators. The pair have agreed, however, that the development of Skyfire’s own popular mobile browser will continue. It will also enhance Opera’s presence in North America and bolster its mobile advertising solutions. Continue reading
FTSE 100 companies still failing to take advantage of the mobile technology
Rating: mPowa and Incentivated think they may have the answers
Google has recently suggested that 50 per cent of all internet searches will be undertaken via mobile devices in 2013. Yet most major company web sites fail to support mobile technology. A recent survey carried out by Incentivated show that 69 per cent of FTSE 100 companies have failed to take any steps to ensure that their websites are compatible with mobile devices. Consequently there are simple problems relating to font size and difficult navigation which would be quite simple to fix. “Given that substantial revenues are generated through digital channels, it really is bewildering that so many blue chip companies are stuck in the Dark Ages when it comes to how they interact with their customers,” observed Dan Wagner, CEO with mPowa. He claims that retailers who fail to capture sales whenever and wherever the consumer is ready to buy, will suffer severely in the fiercely competitive landscape in the UK. Continue reading
Guest Post: What responsive web design doesn’t fix
Improving mobile web access Part III
by Geoff Dennis – director with Insight Manufacturing & blogger on Swuse.com
In my previous article ‘Guest Post: Improving mobile web access – Responsive Web Design‘ I described how, using Responsive Web Design (RWD), a single web site solution can be developed for a multitude of formats. It automatically re-sizes its layout and content according to device-specific parameters such as screen width. The approach has many benefits which are outlined below. Continue reading
Guest Post: Six design tips for businesses going mobile
by Ariel Fredrickson, a vp with WompMobile
So, you’ve made the decision to go mobile – offering your customers a website that is viewable and accessible on a smartphone. The next step, however, is building a mobile website that captures users and is simple to operate on a small screen. Just like regular websites, Steve Krug’s sage advice still applies: – don’t make people think when visiting your site. The computer-human interaction should be simple and promote usability. Be direct, offer quality interaction and be succinct. Below are six helpful tips to create a mobile website that works for you. Continue reading
Keynote says most retail mobile sites slowed in November
Rating: France’s Darty site retains its massive lead
Overall, the performance of a key group of mobile web sites operated by retailers in seven countries worldwide dipped in November [2012] compared to the previous month. The average load time for monitored mobile sites was 17.95 seconds in November, compared to 16.44 seconds in October[2012]. These findings come from Keynote Competitive Research – the industry analysis group of Keynote Systems which produces its monthly Mobile Retail Index – World Edition. The figures point to the fact that retailers in general didn’t tweak their mobile sites in the run up to Xmas. Conversely, it also showed that France’s Darty is way ahead of the competition. Somebody better ask the company how it does it. Continue reading
Guest Post: Improving mobile web access – Responsive Web Design
by Geoff Dennis – director with Insight Manufacturing & blogger on Swuse.com
In my previous article here I described how there is a growing need to provide a good mobile web experience, given that the number of people using portable devices as their primary device for internet access is overtaking the number using the desktop. With the multitude of portable device types in use, including tablets and mini-tablets as well as mobiles, there is a need too for a method for developing web sites that ensures content is delivered effectively to these devices as well as for fixed internet. Continue reading
Guest Post: Seven things to include in your mobile website design
by Kole McRae, marketer with web design house - 9th sphere
When designing a mobile website, it is important to understand just who the end user will be. This will essentially help you design around your customer, creating an experience that is easier for them. You want your mobile website to be quick and easy to access and navigate as well. If this is a first attempt at mobile website design it is easiest to modify your existing internet site by making it compatible for mobile devices. Of course, this will mean changing the layout, design, and construction. However with some practice and continued improvement, you will master the art of mobile website design. Below are seven things to in include in your mobile website design. Continue reading
Guest Post: Improvements in mobile web access & what’s driving them
by Geoff Dennis – director with Insight Manufacturing & blogger on Swuse.com
Mobile devices come with a variety of screen sizes and resolutions, far more varied than those in use with desktop computers.To deliver web content at an acceptable resolution for reading on a mobile device, the standard approach for a long time was to determine what device type it is such as iPhone 3GS. Next, look up the properties of this device in a database, and deliver content in a form that would seem to be the best fit to those properties. With such a wide variety of devices to cater for, testing that the content is displayed properly is constrained to the most popular devices in use at any given time. Continue reading
Book review: The Fifth Wave
Book review: The Fifth Wave - a strategic vision for mobile internet innovation, investment & return
Authors: Robert Marcus & Collins Hemingway
The fifth wave of computing – which is the mobile internet – is a tsunami, according to the authors of this book. Apparently, the convergence of mobile networks and devices with the internet access creates a near-universal market of six billion users and generates $2.5 trillion in annual economic value. Yet it has barely begun to gather force. This book aims to explain this technological revolution and how it will radically alter life, society, and commerce. And we are giving away ten copies of this ebook. Continue reading
Retail mobile web sites faster outside Europe says Keynote
Rating: France takes fastest (Darty) and slowest (Carrefour)
The mobile site performance of 24 of the top retailers across seven countries are presently being monitored by Keynote Competitive Research – the industry analysis group of Keynote Systems. Until now, European mobile sites have generally exhibited faster loading speeds but last month [October 2012], non-European websites overtook their European counterparts. These findings are taken from the October Keynote Mobile Retail Index – World Edition. The good news is that UK sites performed marginally better in October in September where the average load time was 8.9 seconds, compared with 9.17 seconds, Bad news for France where. On average, response times for French sites slowed from 18.78 seconds in September, to 21.09 seconds in October. Continue reading
